Brush up on your hey diddle diddle -Mother Goose is coming to town. The grand dame of fairy tales will appear on the Chatelech Secondary School stage surrounded by a host of her nursery rhyme characters: Jack and Jill, the Knave of Hearts, and the cow that jumped over the moon, in this year's PantoMusica Society production opening Nov. 30.
Pantomime is a colourful holiday tradition of the British theatre; it's a musical comedy that involves the audience in a noisy, happy entertainment. This year, pantomime director Barbara Horlock hopes to bring back the fantasy of the early harlequin tradition with the use of colour and masks. The traditional element includes characters wearing fantasy costumes with flounces and glitter, hoop skirts and Turkish toes. Wardrobe mistress Robbie McEvoy, in her largest costume design project to date, has designed and sewn them all so far.
The script for Mother Goose was written by British author Jim Sperinck (Jasper Publishing) and has won an award in an annual panto festival in England in 1996/97. It also received a winning commendation for its use of best comedy duo. You can see Catchem and Skinnem, the duo in question, on the Chat stage played by Barbara Christie and Susan Rule. They are the henchpersons of the wicked Jabberwock (played by Barrie Wall) and, along with Mad Max (Bob Dall), they seek to throw Mother Goose out of her home. The dame herself, recognizable by the Marj Simpson hairdo, is hilariously performed by Greg Stewart. Audiences will remember him from last year's panto when he played the dapper scarecrow. Without giving away too many surprises, listening to Stewart sing "A Good Man is Hard to Find" will certainly be worth the price of admission. Musical direction is by Berni G, accompanied by Paul Steenhuis and Barry Taylor.
The fairy queen (Jennifer MacInnes) seeks to help the characters: Idle Jack, performed with teenage attitude by Jordan Martel, Jill (Rachael Maedel), the golden goose girl (Meghan Stewart) and her charge Ermyntrude the goose (Sacha and Tarah Kalman). But it is up to the cow (Trevor Vestad) to show them the path. Along the way the audience should expect to find such diverse entertainment as the theme from Star Trek and The Dance of the Moonbeams, performed by the ensemble. Choreography is by Barbara Horlock and Jane Degnan.
As usual, the panto involves all ages: school kids from ages eight to 16 and adults who range from youthful to grandmother. Pantomime is great for kids in the audience - they are encouraged to shout out and sing along. Director Horlock, who has stage managed the last two Coast pantos, hopes that everyone, of all ages, will join in the fun. She points out that teens like Jordan, Meghan and Rachael have grown up with the ensemble by appearing in the pantomimes of previous years. These veterans, though still a young age, will now have the opportunity to perform a principal role.The panto runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, then again on Dec. 5 through 9 at 7 p.m. with matinées on Dec. 2 and 9. Tickets for $12 are available at Harbour Insurance in Madeira Park, Ashley's in Sechelt, Roberts Creek Health Foods and Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons.
